After breaking out last season as more of an offensive threat, Clifford’s game rounded out. Adding seven goals and seven assists to his 51 penalty minutes made him one of the more difficult players to go up against. Offense with tough, physical play is hard to find.

Clifford will compete for a spot potentially in the Kings’ top-six forward group of the left wing now that Dustin Penner signed in Anaheim. He’ll go up against the likes of Daniel Carcillo and possibly Tyler Toffoli to do that.

This signing gives Los Angeles 25 NHL contracts on their roster. Any given night means having as many as 23 players up with the big club. GM Dean Lombardi will have some decisions to make on who gets to stay.

It boggles my mind that Carcillo manages to keep a job, let alone keep battling for a top-6 spot. The guy is a liability. So yeah he protects your marquee players, but he also has no self-control, no off switch. If I was the Kings I’d much rather have Clifford up there. Or Toffoli if they want more skill.